Palins can take a lesson from Obamas
I read with great interest the Washington Post editorial ("Obamas talk sense about the transition" in the Juneau Empire on Nov. 19). It mentions the Obamas' pledge to become true Washingtonians, to contribute to their immediate community, neighborhood and schools, as they have done in other cities where they have lived.

Avalanche Training
About 50 volunteers from various organizations in Juneau practiced their avalanche rescue skills Saturday on top of Eaglecrest Ski Area.

Juneau students to be taught suicide awareness
Starting next month, students in the Juneau School District will be taught a one-day unit on depression and suicide awareness that also aims to identify those who might be depressed or at risk for suicide.

Photo: A century worth celebrating
The Rev. Walter Soboleff smiles Saturday as he makes his entrance into the Tlingit-Haida Community Center for the start of his 100th birthday celebration. Several hundred people attended the event to honor Soboleff and his many accomplishments. Soboleff was born Nov. 14, 1908.

Police & Fire
Juneau police and fire official and state police reported:

Alaska's impermanent permanent fund
In late August, Gov. Sarah Palin flew off on her nine-week campaign for the nation's second-highest office. During those nine weeks, the Alaska Permanent Fund lost $8 billion, including more than $1 billion from the supposedly untouchable principal.

Group heads out the road
A big storm roared in the night before, thrashing the trees even in the protected spot where my house sits, filling the pond and floodplain, and scaring the pets.

Gliding through the wilderness
ANCHORAGE - Backcountry skaters Jim Renkert and Bob Butera were poking around the Valley two weekends ago, looking for some promising ice when they stumbled upon a jackpot.

Fairbanks bird count helps biologists track populations, winter movements
FAIRBANKS - For Nancy Gigliotti, the Fairbanks FeederCount is just another way to keep tabs on her "customers," as she calls the birds that visit her feeders each day throughout the winter. The chickadees, woodpeckers and occasional red-breasted nuthatch that show up at her feeders are like family.

Connecting road to be closed
JUNEAU - The connecting road from Engineer's Cutoff to Fritz Cove Road will be closed for the upcoming winter season, the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities said.

Anchorage looks for an interim mayor
ANCHORAGE - Naming an interim mayor in Anchorage when U.S. Sen.-elect Mark Begich resigns in early January is creating quite a stir among city Assembly members.

Two Bears grapplers 'Pilot' way into finals
The old home mat advantage didn't produce any champions this weekend, but a pair of Crimson Bears wrestlers treated the crowd to close title matches and three more bounced back from losses to take third at Juneau-Douglas High School's annual Pilot Invitational.

Crimson Bears sweep weekend pair from Rams
A crew of youngsters helped the Juneau Douglas High School hockey team take a pair of weekend home games from the 3A Su Valley Rams in dominant fashion, improving the team's record to 7-1 and pushing their win streak to 6 games.

Stevens trial witness says he hid truth
WASHINGTON - One of the government's witnesses against convicted Sen. Ted Stevens says he didn't tell the truth on the stand about an immunity deal with the Justice Department in exchange for his testimony. But federal prosecutors said Friday that his current story is the false one.